MLB Roundup: Dickey sharp in Mets win over Nationals

New York Mets starting pitcher R.A. Dickey pitches against the Washington Nationals before being relieved in the eighth inning of an MLB baseball game at Nationals Park in Washington, Thursday, June 7, 2012. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

New York Mets' David Wright (5) is congratulated by teammates, including Kirk Nieuwenhuis, second from right, and bench coach Bob Geren (7), after scoring a run against the Washington Nationals during the seventh inning of a baseball game at Nationals Park in Washington on Thursday, June 7, 2012. The Mets won 3-1. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

The Associated Press

National League

WASHINGTON - Knuckleballer R.A. Dickey kept Washington swinging at shadows on a sunny afternoon, Lucas Duda homered again and the New York Mets averted a sweep, beating the Nationals 3-1 Thursday.

Dickey (9-1) tossed four-hit ball for scoreless 7-1/3 innings and extended the longest shutout streak of his career to 24-2/3 innings - a span that began against Pittsburgh and continued against San Diego, St. Louis and the Nats.

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Dickey became the first pitcher in the majors to reach nine wins this season. He also exceeded his victory total from last year, when he often was the victim of poor run support.

Duda backed Dickey with his fifth homer in eight games, a two-run shot in the fifth against Chien-Ming Wang (1-2).

Daniel Murphy, who earlier bounced into an inning-ending double play that left him in a 0-for-19 rut, later added an RBI single.

The way Dickey has been pitching lately, three runs were more than enough. He limited the Nationals to only

singles, struck out eight and walked two.

Most of the outs were soft ones and when Adam LaRoche worked out an 11-pitch walk, it was a major accomplishment.

Washington never got a runner past second base when Dickey was on the mound. He left after Jhonatan Solano's one-out single in the eighth and reliever Bobby Parnell walked Rick Ankiel.

After the runners moved up on a grounder, Bryce Harper grounded out to end the threat.

Frank Francisco gave up Ryan Zimmerman's leadoff home run in the ninth before closing for his 15th save in 18 chances.

The win stopped the Mets' three-game losing streak heading into the Subway Series that begins Friday night at Yankee Stadium. The Mets had lost the first two at Nationals Park in the series.

Wang allowed eight hits in 5 1-3 innings in his second start of the season. The Mets won for just the second time in 10 meetings with Washington since last September.

There wasn't a whole lot for Nationals fans to cheer about on a bright afternoon until Zimmerman's third homer.

Midway through the game, however, there was a ripple of applause throughout the crowd of 32,096 when clouds briefly blocked the glare.

Notes

Dickey's previous best scoreless streak was 18 innings in 2010. ... Mets LF Jason Bay was a late scratch because of flulike symptoms. He has been out since April 23 because of a broken rib, and was activated from the disabled list this week. ... Mets LHP Johan Santana will start Friday night at Yankee Stadium in his first outing since throwing a no-hitter. Manager Terry Collins said Santana, who threw a career-high 134 pitches in that gem last Friday, won't be on a pitch count. ... Nationals RHP Stephen Strasburg is set to start Friday night at Fenway Park. Manager Davey Johnson said he doesn't expect to use an infield shift against Boston lefty slugger David Ortiz, not with the heat Strasburg brings. ... Mets RHP Jon Rauch will be examined Friday. The reliever has a tender elbow and has lost five straight decisions.

Dodgers 8, Phillies 3

PHILADELPHIA - Aaron Harang got his 100th career victory as Los Angeles overcame a two-run, sixth-inning deficit, and the Dodgers won to complete their first four-game sweep at Philadelphia in 66 years.

Harang (5-3) allowed three runs and eight hits in six innings, improving to 100-97 in 11 big league seasons. The Dodgers had not swept a four-game series at Philadelphia since Brooklyn accomplished the feat from May 24-26, 1946, according to STATS LLC.

Cole Hamels (8-3) wasted a 3-0 lead, giving up four runs - three earned - and six hits in six innings. Philadelphia has lost a season-high six straight and has the NL's worst home record at 12-19.

Brewers 4, Cubs 3

MILWAUKEE - Norichika Aoki homered twice, including a drive off Casey Coleman (0-1) leading off the 10th inning. The former Japanese batting champion entered the game with one homer, an inside-the-park homer on April 20.

Corey Hart hit a game-tying RBI double in the eighth for the Brewers, who took two out of three games from their NL Central rivals. John Axford (1-2) earned the win.

Buster Posey, Angel Pagan and Gregor Blanco homered. Ryan Theriot had four hits for the Giants, who committed four errors but won for the ninth time in 11 games.

San Diego (19-39) has the worst record in the big leagues. Jason Marquis (0-1) allowed four runs - two earned - and nine hits in six innings in his Padres' debut.

Pirates 5, Reds 4 (10 innings)

CINCINNATI - Michael McKenry drove in the first earned run allowed by Aroldis Chapman with an RBI double in the 10th inning, rallying the Pittsburgh Pirates to a victory over Cincinnati.

McKenry's sacrifice fly put Pittsburgh up 4-3 in the seventh, but closer Joel Hanrahan (3-0) blew a save for only the second time this season, giving up a leadoff homer to Ryan Ludwick in the ninth.

BOSTON - Clay Buccholz pitched a four-hitter for his third career shutout - all against Baltimore - leading Boston Red Sox over the Orioles 7-0 Thursday night.

Buccholz (6-2) struck out six and walked one, throwing 125 pitches, two shy of his career high. It was the fourth complete game for the 27-year-old left-hander, the first since a five-hitter in an 11-0 win at Baltimore on June 4, 2010.

His only other shutout was a 10-0 victory in a no-hitter on Sept. 1, 2007, his second big league start and appearance.

Adrian Gonzalez had three hits and two RBIs as Boston stopped a three-game losing streak. The Orioles had been 5-0 at Fenway Park this year.

Tigers 7, Indians 5

DETROIT - Miguel Cabrera homered, Brennan Boesch broke out of a slump with a pair of hits and Casey Crosby earned his first major league win, helping Detroit beat Cleveland.

Cleveland nearly rallied from a 7-1 deficit but, with the Tigers leading by two, the Indians left the bases loaded in the seventh and two on in the eighth.

Detroit avoided a three-game sweep and beat the Indians for the first time in six meetings this year.

Crosby (1-1) allowed three runs and five hits in 5 1-3 innings in his second career start. Jose Valverde pitched a perfect ninth for his 10th save.

Derek Lowe (7-4) allowed seven runs and nine hits in five innings.

Athletics 7, Rangers 1

OAKLAND, Calif. - Coco Crisp hit a solo homer and bases-loaded triple to match his season total for extra-base hits and Oakland won a series for the first time since May 4-6 against Tampa Bay. The Athletics outscored the Rangers 24-8 in winning three of the four games.

Brandon McCarthy (5-3) allowed one run and three hits in seven innings to improve to 5-0 with a 2.31 ERA in his past six starts. Yu Darvish (7-4) gave up six runs, six hits and six walks in 5 1-3 innings as Texas lost for the seventh time in nine games.